Festival of Trees takes a whole family’

Staff photo by AMANDA HARRISON
Robin Catterton, a Pop’s Angels decorator, arranges one of the ornaments Friday on the “Cold Outside, Warm Up with Hot Chocolate” Christmas tree she helped decorate in memory of her aunt for the 24th annual Festival of Trees. She and other Pop’s Angels also decorated “Santa Here, Santa There, A Santa Everywhere “ tree in memory of her father.

Staff photo by AMANDA HARRISON
The family of Landon Sneade, a 3-month-old baby who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome on Nov. 21, decorated a Christmas tree in his memory Friday morning for the 24th annual Festival of Trees at Huntingtown High School.

Staff photo by AMANDA HARRISON
Donna Bennett, left, and her daughter, Brieanna, 14, decorate their sixth Christmas tree for the 24th annual Festival of Trees. This tree, “Wings of Hope,” is in honor of her grandmothers, who died earlier this year, Donna said.

Staff photo by AMANDA HARRISON
Karen Dellinger points out a stocking ornament she decorated to her husband, Fred. Karen said it took her about six weeks to decorate the stockings on the Christmas tree.

Staff photo by AMANDA HARRISON
Robin Catterton, a Pop’s Angels decorator, arranges one of the ornaments Friday on the “Cold Outside, Warm Up with Hot Chocolate” Christmas tree she helped decorate in memory of her aunt for the 24th annual Festival of Trees. She and other Pop’s Angels also decorated “Santa Here, Santa There, A Santa Everywhere “ tree in memory of her father.

More than 1,000 volunteers decorated trees, set up the hallways, and entertained and guided visitors through the 24th annual Calvert Hospice Festival of Trees over the weekend.

Individuals, businesses and organizations sponsored one or more trees and then Friday, teams of decorators traveled to Huntingtown High School to adorn all 60 trees with ornaments, stockings, garland and glitter.

Visitors wandered among the 70 vendors, purchasing crafts, art and other merchandise.

The Festival of Trees benefits Calvert Hospice and the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House in Prince Frederick, which cares for individuals with chronic illnesses who are in their final days and their families.

“It takes a whole family to pull this off,” said Jeanne Coonan, who has participated in the festival in some capacity for about 20 years. This year, she served as chairwoman of the festival.

Karen Dellinger, who helped decorate the Spree Tree with hand-embellished stockings, said Friday that she and her fellow decorators began working on a theme for the tree in October.

“Then we got to work quick,” she said, adding that she would work on the stockings for four to six hours a day for about six weeks.

Her husband, Fred Dellinger, joked that he had to pull her away from crafting a couple of times.

On Friday, Linda Gottfried, the director of development for Calvert Hospice, said the Spree Tree was auctioned off with its accompanying $3,400 worth of merchandise.